An ancient centre of vast intercourse between Tibet, South Asia and extending over to Persia, Leh is a city that remains cosmopolitan. The relation with the high Plateau contains have since been reduced to trade in cigarettes and the silk route Have disappeared , having become a victim of modern geopolitics. Leh is now the Capital of tiny piece of the world.

Leh is a small town situated at the apex of a triangular plateau  formed by the Indus river at an altitude of 3868 meters with a narrow intersecting lanes, have the old palace of King of Ladakh. Founded in 14th century by Khri-gtsug-ide, was called as Sle or Gle in the beginning and changed to its present name in 19th century by the Morovian missionaries. Leh khar of the Palace is decorated with wall painting depicting the life of Buddha, the narrow winding corridors run into rooms containing more than 1000 year old tankhas, gold statues, and swords.

THE TSEMO GOMPA

Tsemo Gompas is one of the royal monastery built by the rulers, contains a masterpiece a two storey statue of Chamba in the sitting posture. The proportion of the different parts of the body and symmetry and beauty of the features, particularly the ecstatic expression of the eyes, which is sheer perfection, overwhelms the visitor who is left breathless in wonderment.

THE LEH MONASTERY –GOLDEN BUDDHA

Leh monastery expresses supremacy of spiritual kind over the temporal ruler, houses priceless scrolls and exquisitely bound manuscripts. It is a school for Lama students which houses more than 200 students. The episodes from life of Shakyamuni Buddha, clouds, water forest, heavenly bodies and ever present dragon etc are painted on the wall of the monastery.

OTHER MONASTERIES AROUND LEH

HEMIS GOMPA

The Hemis Gompa is 40 Km from Leh. Every year in the month of June (the fifth month in the Tibetan calendar), there is a fair to mark the birthday of the Guru Padmasambhava. The temple is ablaze with light, in the courtyard the blare of long brass trumpets signals the beginning of the fight between good and the evil. Dancing and prancing, leering and scowling, the demons – monks beneath grotesque masks-enter. Among them two skeletons ease the tension with antics. The forces of good representing legendary heroes and saints strive to overcome the demons as stately dance steps and graceful mystic gestures are pitted against frenzy and madness.. Cheerful rituals and fascinating festivals and imagery, once seen, live long in the memory while the dance, music and chang (local Beer) loving Ladakhis soften the awesome and bleak scenery.

LAMAYARU GOMPA

Lamayaru is most mysterious and oldest monastery in ladakh and is 15 km from Fotu-la.

Entering the courtyard there is a sound of unseen chanting which increases as one ascends to the small terrace of a room where a monk chants in high pitched voice with his head lowered in front of a picture. As visitor approaches, he offers to show them around picking up a large bunch of keys and proceeds to unlock doors-empty with improvised altars, a few pictures – some richly furnished with carpets, Tibetan tables, priceless tankhas, and altars laden with statutes. In the head Lama room monks pray together before a colossal statue of Avolokiteshvara with eleven heads and 1000 hands.